Watch-case



Patented-July 5, 1887.

(Model.)

C. K, GILES.

WATCH CASE.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orti-CE.

I CHARLES K. GILES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATC H -CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,984, dated July 5,1887.

Application filed April 27, 1885. Serial No. 163,658. (Model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be 1t known that I, GnAnLEs K. GrLEs,

, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the' county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vatch-Cases, which are fully set forth in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, inwhich y Figure l is a planview of a watch-case cmbodying my invention, aportion thereof being broken away to show the construction, Fig. 2, asectional view of the same on theline m @cof Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectionalview of the back portion of the case detached, showing the inner bezelhinged thereto; Fig. 4, a similar sectional view ofthe case-centerdetached; Fig. 5, an end view of the back portion of the case, with theinner bezel removed at the hinge; Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view ofthe inner bezel detached, showing the movement-holding ring in positionin the bezel; and Fig. 7, an end elevation of the same.

' Like letters refer to like parts in all the tigures of the drawings.

My invention relates to watch-cases, and is in the nature of animprovement upon the combined dust-proof b oX and case for watches setforth in LcttersPatent No. 30S, S40, granted to me December 2, 1884..

I will now proceed to describe the construction and operation of myinvention as I have embodied it in one form, and will then point outdefinitely in the claims the special iniprovements which I believe to benew and wish to secure by Letters Patent.

In the drawings, A represents the back-portion of the case or box, whichmay be constructed in one piece,or in two pieces, as shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, where a represents a ring of base metal,and a an outerportion or cap of precious metal, the two parts being permanently joinedtogether, however, so as to form practically a single piece. Thisconstruction I prefer on account of the economy in the use of preciousmetal. This back portion A of the case is provided with a flange orprojection, A', extending around it about midway of its height, asshown, and at its upper edgeis further provided with. a groove, a,

which forms a seat to receive the outer bezel, B, which forms the frontportion of the case. This bezel B carries the crystal and snaps intoplace in the seat ai, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thus forming adust-proof case to receive the movement. In this form the boX or case,consisting of the back portion, A, and upper portion, B, will'form adust-proof box, which may be used for the transportation or exhibitionof the movement.

Cindicates the case-center, which is annular in form and of sufficientdepth to fill the space between the iiangeA and the bezel B when thelatteris in position, as shown in Fig. 2. This case-center is preferablyscrew-threaded yinternally for a portion or the whole of its depth, asshown at c, the upper portion of the part A being correspondinglythreaded, as shown at c', between the seat a2 and flange A. By reason ofthis construction the box may be readily transformed into a casesuitable for -personal wear by applying the center C over the part A,screwing it into position when screw-threads are used, and then snappingdown the bezel B into its seat, thelower edge of the bezel and theflange A holding the center in place in an obvious manner.

In order to providev a suitable support for the movement whereby it willbe securely retained in position and yet be readily inspected,

I have devised the following construction:

-D indicates a ring or bezel, which is hinged to the upper edge-of thelower portion', A, of the casein any suitable manner, the hingejointbeing shown in the present instance as consisting ofthe perforated lugsd on the bezel,

arranged between two similar lugs, d', on the case A, the whole beingconnected by means of a pintle, d2, passing through all the lugs. Tithinthis bezel D is formed a seat, D', into which the movement-holding ringE snaps. `It will be seen that this inner bezel, D, may be readily swungout from the case, carrying with it the movement, which is located inthe movement-holding ring F, so that thelatter may be' inspected orremoved, if desired. The bezel may, however, be swung out alone bydisengaging it from the ringE, a seat, c, being formed in the interiorof the part A near its upper edge, in which the movement-holding IoC andshown in the drawings.

ring may rest, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.' The hinge-joint connectingthe inner bezel, D, with the case is preferably located at the pointWhere the winding-stem enters the case, as shown in Fig. l, the movementbeing so arranged within the movement-holding ring E that thewinding-stud thereof comes in line with the winding-key o1" the stem,which latter may be drawn out when it is desired to swing the movementout.

In Letters Iatent No. 308,840, hereinbefore speeiiied, there is shown awatch-case consisting of a back and front portion and acase-eenterclamped between the two. In this construction, however, the body orcylindrical portion of the case forms a part of the front portion of theease, the back consisting of aA mere cap, which screws thereon. In thisconstruction the movement is not protected until the entire ease-fi. c.,both the front and back portions-is assembled, since when the movementis placed in the front portion its rear face is exposed. In my presentimprovement the back portion is adapted to receive the movement, whichrests therein, and its exposed portions are completely surrounded by theback portion, which protects it in a great measure even if the frontportion be not applied thereto. It is obvious that this will be theease, since the front face of the movement is protected by a plate,while the back face is unprotected, unless completelysurrounded by thelower portion of the case, as hereinbefore set forth. l

It is obvious that various modifications in the details of constructionmay be made without departing from the principle of my inven tion, and Itherefore do not wish to be understood as limitingr myself strictly tothe precise details of constructionhereinbefore described, For instance,in order to form a hunter-case watch, the bezel proper, B, may be madesomewhat smaller than inthe construction shown in the drawings, and afront plate of ordinary construetion will be hinged to the case-center Cin such a manner as to cover the said bezel when closed and form acomplete hunter-ease.

I make no claim in the present application to the subject-matter claimedin an application filed by me of even date herewith, Serial No. 163,660.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. rIlhe combination, with the dust-proof box consisting of the part A,having flange A and seat a2, and the part I3, adapted te be sprung orsnapped into positionin the said seat, oi the threaded casecenter C,adapted to be screwed upon acorrespondiugly-threaded portion ofthe partA, and to be retained in position between the [lange A and the loweredge of the part B, substantial-ly as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combinatiomwith a watehcase,of the inner bezel or ring hinged tothe ease and having a seat to receive the movementholding` ring,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, with the back portion,

A, of the case, of the bezel D, hinged to its upper edge,and providedwith the seat D', into which the movement-ring may be sprung or snapped,substantially as and for the purposes specified. A

4. The combination, with the part A,of the outswinging bezel I), hingedthereto and carrying the movement-holding ring, the part A beingprovided with a seat, e, in which the movement-holding` ring rests whenin position, substantial] y as and for the purposes specified.

CHARLES K. GILES.

fitnessesz J. M. Piinsim'tl., XV. E. JoNEs.

